Dining

Catering Convenor Bob Torrens reports that 221 members took the trouble to submit their views in the recent survey. This was a very impressive indication that whilst our members are not totally satisfied with what the club delivers to the membership they are anything but apathetic. As your catering convener for 2011/2012, I pledge to address all of your concerns and will work with our Chef, Brian, to ensure we achieve high quality, value for money dining in 2012. My committee, consisting of Des McDowell, Lauren Cheshire, Paul Megarity and Nicola Patterson, met for the first time on Wednesday 11th January and approved an new affordable lunch menu plus a pilot family-friendly high tea on Fridays. The new lunch menu will be available from Tuesday 17th January priced at £9.50 for two courses, so why not come along and give it a try.

There is something you could do to help me; if you have any complaints about your dining experience at the Club, please raise this with the waiting staff immediately. This gives the Chef an opportunity to achieve a resolution on the spot and provides him with live feedback.

I can give you an example of why this is important. A member had an issue with the Christmas day lunch, I only found out about this on the 8th January as a result of a conversation with the members friend!

In addition I would appeal to members to take the trouble to book the dining room as this avoids waste and assists the Club Manager in planning staffing levels. On one night before Christmas when there were no bookings the waitress was quite rightly stood down and then 25 people walked in, the lone barman to his credit rescued the situation and all were fed.

Some ideas for future discussion will be rugby suppers, sailing night specials, steak nights and wine tasting dinners. Oh, by the way, hand-cut chips will be the standard from Wednesday 11th January - if anyone really wants the frozen variety they will be available on request.

Bob Torrens
Catering Convenor